where the high-end kids are!

The Hotel Hershey- Hershey Park, Pennsylvania

The Hotel Hershey is a historically elegant resort located 3 hours by car from New York City, 90 minutes from Philadelphia and 2 hours from Washington DC. The Hotel Hershey is open year-round and offers something for everyone. Friends of ours have been spending Christmas break at the Hotel Hershey for few a years before we decided to give it a try for ourselves. Christmas week was proving to be a tough time for us to get away for the entire week, however we still wanted to take a few days off relax and decompress after the holiday madness and so we decided to give The Hotel Hershey a three-night try.

The Rooms

The Hotel Hershey offers 276 rooms of classic elegance complete with the amenities expected of a truly grand hotel. Outside, panoramic views of the gardens and the majestic Hershey valley punctuate this world class resort experience. The Hotel Hershey has been recognized with the prestigious Forbes Four Star and AAA Four-Diamond Awards, and is a member of the Historic Hotels of America.

In addition to the well-appointed rooms, the resort also offers their Sweetest Suites which offer 1-2 bedroom options, additional amenities and generally larger floor plans. The Milton Hershey suite at 2100 square feet is large enough to sleep 20, which is great if you are bringing extra family members or nannies.

If the suites still aren’t big enough for you, you may want to consider staying in one of ten 4-6 bedroom luxuries cottages which are also on the hotel grounds.

Hotel Hershey Guest Roomm

Hotel Hershey Guest Suite

Room Amenities

Complimentary WiFi

Signature Spa bath amenities

Egyptian cotton linens

Feather duvet and pillows

Hair dryer

Flat screen TV with DirecTV

DVD player

iPod alarm clock

Refrigerator

Single-cup coffee brewer with bottled water

Evening turndown service with Hershey’s Kisses Chocolates

Daily newspaper delivery

Cribs and Pack & Plays available upon request

Our Room: We elected to go for two adjoining rooms in the hotel, which gave us a good amount of space for the four of us. We had one king bed and two double.

Here’s what our kids enjoyed at the hotel

Swimming at the indoor pool, open daily from 8 AM – 10 PM

Ice skating on the outdoor rink, skates and hockey sticks available for guest use

Hershey product character appearances at the hotel

Various family-friendly activities that took place during our stay; tie-dye making, cookie decorating, family game night

Making s’mores at the fire pit

Playing in the game room, it wasn’t huge but it was teeming with kids

Dining

The hotel offers a few different options for dining ranging from fine dining to casual, all of which are family-friendly and resort casual dress. . You are also welcome to dine poolside (seasonal), where bar service is also available. There is a coffee shop right in the lobby that opens at 6:30 AM for those early risers. They also happen to make a delicious cup of Hershey’s hot chocolate. If something sweet is what you are after… well than you might want to stop by the hotel bakeshop appropriately named “Sweets”. Both the coffee shop and the bakeshop have quick on-the-go options if your family just wants a quick snack without having to sit in a restaurant.

We strongly recommend making dining reservations ahead of time whether you are planning on having breakfast, lunch, dinner and/or brunch in anyone of the gourmet restaurants, especially during peak season.

Harvest

Tervi 5

Beanery

THe POOL

Guests are welcome to swim year-round in the hotel’s indoor pool. Check with the hotel for more information about the hours and dates of operation of their magnificent outdoor pool and cabana rentals.

Indoor Pool

Outdoor Pool

Sports and Recreation

Tennis

Basketball Court

Sand Volleyball Court (2 courts)

Bocce Ball Court (2 courts)

Croquet Area – Horseshoe Pits (2 pits)

Shuffleboard Courts (3 courts)

Tennis Courts (2 courts)

Fitness Center

What else is there for the kids?

COCOA CLUBHOUSE (Seasonal) Available daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, and

Kids Clubhouse

weekends and holidays year-round. A great opportunity for children to interact with other children while under the watchful eye of our Clubhouse counselors! Each day kids participate in an array of fun and educational activities such as:
Tennis, basketball, arts and crafts, swimming, kids fitness, make your own ice cream, giant tinker toys, and visits to the Children’s Garden & Butterfly House
Children ages 5 and older are welcome. Babysitting is available for children under age 5; please coordinate through the Concierge.

CLUB ADVENTURE The new Club Adventure program is geared towards children 13 years and older. Teens can participate in a variety of fun, educational, and competitive activities. Sessions include hiking and woodland exploration, team-building activities, scavenger hunts and more! Teens can also meet and make friends while enjoying a variety of games at our new sports complex.

The SPA

What better way to rejuvenate your spirits than to visit The Spa at The Hershey Hotel. Melt into the ultimate luxury at the decadent Spa At The Hotel Hershey, affectionately known as The Chocolate Spa. An elegant haven with the unmistakable touch of Hershey, The Spa offers a variety of traditional massages, hydrotherapy, facials, and more— all wrapped in a warm, luxurious tradition inspired by Milton S. Hershey and his wife, Catherine. It’s the perfect retreat to pamper yourself or reconnect with friends. The Spa At The Hotel Hershey has received several accolades over the years, including favorable reviews from Conde Nast Traveler.

Where to visit during your stay

The Hershey Experience expands beyond staying The Hershey Hotel, as the area abounds with fun-filled family activities. However, guests of The Hotel Hershey to receive some great perks for area attractions:

Discounted tickets

1-hour early access to Hersheypark rides (select days)

Admission to Hershey Gardens and The Hershey Story’s Museum Experience*

Complimentary seasonal shuttle service to Hersheypark

Opportunities for exclusive access programs and additional savings across town

Hersheypark

Hersheypark is open during the winter holidays, in fact it’s spectacular! The theme of the park is appropriately titled, “Christmas Candylane”. The magic of the holidays comes to life at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. With two million twinkling lights, rides for all ages, festive decorations, and Hershey’s Product Characters decked out in their holiday best, there is something for all to enjoy! The park is not open to the full capacity as the larger rides including roller coasters, and water rides are closed. All Rides may be subject to early closures in the event of snow, ice or unseasonably cold temperatures, so check with the hotel concierge before heading out.

A few helpful suggestions before heading the park during the holidays:

Wear layers!

Buy a large hot chocolate as soon as you arrive, this will help keep you and the kids warm while waiting on line

Hersheypark Fast Track Pass*

There is a Fast Track Pass for Coaster Lovers! If you just can’t wait to get on our roller coasters, purchase our new Fast Track Pass inside Hersheypark at Hospitality Services. Get your Fast Track Pass as soon as you get to Hersheypark, quantities are limited daily and sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Hershey Story – A fantastic interactive Museum for Kids!

The Hershey Story takes visitors on an inspirational journey through the life of Milton S. Hershey, the man, his chocolate company, the town that bears his name, and his generous legacy.

From the interactive Museum Experience and its creative Apprentice Program to the Chocolate Lab to Café Zooka and the Museum Shop, the sweet results of Mr. Hershey’s entrepreneurship, ingenuity and philanthropy are guaranteed to inspire all who enter The Hershey Story.

We spent hours here, yes hours! Our kids had a blast and so did we!

What our kids enjoyed most about The Hershey Story:

The Chocolate Lab: 45 minute hands-on tutorial on the chocolate making process, with the amazing opportunity to create your own chocolate bar from start to finish right down to designing the wrapper!

IMPORTANT NOTE regarding The Chocolate Lab:

Children must be at least four years old to enter the Lab

Children under 13 must be accompanied by a paying adult

The Chocolate Lab may not be suitable with those with certain nut allergies

The Hershey Story also has a food court on the perimeter of the shopping area where we took the kids for lunch and milkshakes (because we didn’t quite have our full of sweets yet)

We strongly recommend adding The Hershey Story to your travel itinerary.

Hershey Sweet Lights (Seasonal)

A winter wonderland awaits at Hershey Sweet Lights, A Holiday Drive-Thru Spectacular. Enjoy nearly 600 illuminated, animated displays from the comfort of your car as you drive through two miles of wooded trails. Families return year after year for this holiday tradition. Admission is charged.

The spirit of the holidays in Hershey glows brighter than ever with Hershey Sweet Lights!

Speak to the hotel concierge to receive special guest pricing.

* Our family did not take the Hershey Sweet Lights tour, however this might be something you family would enjoy especially after a long day, sometimes a ride in the car is just what you need to wind the kids down.

Activities Beyond Hershey

If you feel like expanding your sightseeing journeys beyond the Hershey perimeter, you may want to take a ride:

Lancaster County (Amish Culture)

Gettysburg (Civil War Battleground)

Excitement Level:

moderate to energetic

Ambiance:

Refined, yet approachable

Highlights:

Higher end amenities at amusement park resort

Friendly and efficient service

Hershey bars upon check-in

Proximity to local area attractions

Shuttle service from hotel to parks

Lots of family activities

Valet Parking

Lowlights:

Restaurants fill quickly

Some guests have noise complaints

Takeaway:

If you are planning on visiting Hershey or this area of Pennsylvania are looking to treat your family to a first-rate old world charm resort… than The Hershey Hotel is is sure to satisfy your pleasure.